Niger – The Liberation from “Independence” - Global Research
Global ResearchAPR 2023
ECOWAS' mixed messages between diplomacy and military action will do little to resolve the crisis in Niger and restore the democratically elected government. This is bad news for the entire region and the wider global community, as Niger is central to Western development and counterterrorism efforts throughout the Sahel. Given that the junta has rejected international mediation efforts, the Sahel faces a turbulent future, made worse by ECOWAS's loss of credibility.
ECOWAS's efforts to resolve the conflict in Niger resemble a balancing act for which there is no easy solution. ECOWAS needs to intervene to stand up for its values, but that intervention shouldn't be based on military action, given the incalculable consequences of a military conflict for the entire region. While it may not have closed the door to the use of force, the bloc is rightly prioritizing diplomacy and the peaceful resolution of differences.